c HEROES OF 2008

You inspire me

Mandy Johnson,British Council Malaysia director

I CAN'T imagine anyone notbeing moved or inspiredwhen they hear United Statespresident-elect Barrack Obamaspeak.

He is like a breath of fresh air

in a stale political arena.He has a vision for the world,

and the role of the US in it,which places cultural relationsat the core of international rela­tions.

He recognises the value of

listening and discussing issuesto reach a settlement, which

is a great improvement on hispredecessors' approach.

Peter Ng,UC5lUnwe~ftypresidentandvice chancellor

PROFESSOR Kim W. Chan, Blue

Ocean Strategy co-writer andFellow of the World Economic

Forum, has been a constant

source of inspiration and a per­sonal and professional mentor.

UCSI adopted his principles toshape its identity and approach.

A meeting with him in 2006sparked a partnership that led tothe formation of the UCSI Blue

Ocean Strategy Regional Centre,

which will be the regional hubfor promoting BOS tenets.

His impressive track record,and unshakeable belief in the

calibre of UCSI have inspired uscollectively - and myself spe­cifically - to aim for the stars.

Dr Volker Wolf,Goethe-Institut Malaysia director

I AM inspired by InstitutTerjemahan Negara Malaysiadirector Mohd Khair Ngadironbecause of his tireless promotionof Malaysian caricaturist Lat inGermany this year.

His team was successful in its

cooperation with a German pub­

lisher duri~g the pres~ntation ofLat's book In the language.

He is focused on his vision and

integrates his theoretical andtechnical competencies within apractical and diplomatic manner.

His acknowledgement of thecontributions of others is also atrait I admire.

I admire him for his com­

pleteness, humane talents andcharacter.

Elizabeth Lee,5unway Unive~ityCollege and5unway Group of Colleges execu­tive director

BEING a teacher, first and fore­

most, I look at other great edu­cators, the greatest of whom, tome, is Jesus Christ.

I learnt to teach using analo­gies like Christ told parables.Now and then, I use Christ's ex­

am pies as they make sense andstill apply to modern-day living.

What Christ "speaks" of arebased on good-for-eternity

. values, from which we can drawtremendous wisdom.

He had an answer for every

question, a prescription for anysituation and a solution to everyproblem.

Professor Datuk Aminah

Ayob,Universiti Perguruan 5ultan Idrisvice chancellor

PROFESSORDatuk Tunku Ismail

Mat Jiwa was the dean of Uni­

versiti Sains Malaysia's School ofEducation in the 1980s.

He was fair and a friend to hisstaff. But he was strict when itcame to work:

As a vice chancellor now, I

model my leadership style onhim, particularly the way heboosted morale among his staffand carried himself.

He gave me a lot of responsi­bilities because he believed that

the more yeu do, the more youlearn.

Professor Datuk Nik

Mustapha R Abdullah,Universiti Putra Malaysia vicechancellor

MAK Engku was the eldest onmy father's side. She was a

strong woman yet poised andelegant. I am deeply saddenedby her'death.

She moulded my personality

by~instilling good values in meand putting strong emphasis onreligion.

Mak Engku was the matriarchof the family. I often sought heradvice ..

As I settled down and started

my own family, I couldn't helpbut ask myself "What wouldMak Engku do?" if I encoun­tered a problem ..

Professor Datuk Dr

Sharifah' Hapsah .SyedHasan Shahabudin,Universiti Kebangsaan Malaya­sia (UKM) vice chancellor

WARGA UKM - students,academics and administrative,

technical and support staff ­inspired me the most this year.

They demonstrated the UKMspirit as the national university,

dedicated to nation-buildingand the promotion of national

identity through Bahasa Malay­sia, while striving to be one ofthe world's leading universities.

Because of them I am de­

termined to provide the bestphysical, social and psychologi­cal milieu for working,'learningand innovating.

Professor Datuk Zaini

Ujang,Universiti Teknologi Malaysia(UTM) vice chancellor.

THE person who inspired methe most is UTM Board ofDirectors chairman and former

Chief Secretary to the MalaysianGovernment Tan Sri Halim Ali.

A soft spoken former chief

diplomat, Halim has challengedme to transform UTM from

"good to great", from.a toplocal technical university to a

global player.It's a tall order but something

I aspire to realise. His advice,often said in a casual man-

ner, is thought provoking and

inspiring.

Professor Tan Sri DzulkifliAbdul Razak,Universiti Sains Malaysia vicechancellor

MY father Datuk Abdul Razak

Abdul Hamid continues to

inspire me with his humility,honesty, hard work and "heartwork" (the intangibles such as'spirituality), harmony and avoid­

ing hypocrisy.This 83-year-old survivor of

the 1945 Hiroshima atomic

bombing teaches me that bybeing humble, one will alwaysbe in a learning mode.

His philosophy continues tobe a guide to the way of lifethat we have lost.

Professor Datuk Ghauth

Jasmon,University of Malaya (UM) vicechancellor

AMONG the responsibilities ofbeing UM's 10th YC is to leadthe university to new heights.

Prophet Muhammad hasconvinced me that nothing isimpossible. He was appointedthe Messenger of Allah at 40to lead not only a tribe but allhumankind.

He was the seal of all Proph­ets, a husband, a father, a gen­eral on battlefields, a leader, a

religious scholar and an adviser.He was trustworthy, wise andtruthful, among other traits.